A look at the fiction bestseller list provides a snapshot of the reading tastes of fellow Malibu readers: the blockbuster by Nelson DeMille, “The Gate House;” one of the year’s best, “The God of War;” last year’s best in paperback like “Run” and “A Great Man,” and David Foster Wallace’s “Infinite Jest.” Three of the top nonfiction titles this month are humor books, providing a little levity in these turbulent times. Those who haven’t already read them, are catching up with President-Elect Obama’s two books. Two of the latest and greatest surf books top the list, following recent appearances by Kelly Slater and Laird Hamilton.
For children, local poet and writer Richard Means Ybarra beats out Stephenie Meyer’s Twilight series with his Malibu-situated story “Scratch and the Pirates of Paradise Cove”
Fiction
1. “The Last Night at the Lobster,” by Stewart Onan, paperback, Penguin Books, $13
2. “Infinite Jest,” by David Foster Wallace, paperback, Back Bay Books, $17.99
3. “The Elegance of the Hedgehog,” by Muriel Barberry, paperback, Europa Editions, $15
4. “The Gate House,” by Nelson DeMille, hardcover, Grand Central Publishing, $27.99
5. “The God of War,” by Marisa Silver, paperback, Simon & Schuster, $23
6. “The Uncommon Reader,” by Alan Bennett, paperback, Picador USA, $12
7. “The Brass Verdict,” by Michael Connelly, hardcover, Little Brown, $26.99
8. “The Great Man,” by Katie Christensen, paperback, Anchor Books, $14.95
9. “The Hour I First Believed,” by Wally Lamb, paperback, Harper, $29.95
10. “Run,” by Ann Patchett, paperback, Harper Perennial, $14.95
Nonfiction
1. “Kelly Slater: For the Love,” by Kelly Slater, paperback, Chronicle Books, $35
2. “Force of Nature: Mind, Body, Soul (and, of Course, Surfing),” by Laird Hamilton et al. paperback, Rodale, $27.95
3. “Outliers: The Story of Success,” by Malcolm Gladwell, paperback, Little Brown, $27.99
4. “The Audacity of Hope,” by Barack Obama, paperback, Three Rivers Press, $14.95
5. “Goodnight Bush: An Unauthorized Parody,” by Eric Origen, paperback, Little Brown, $14.99
6. “Stuff White People Like: A Definitive Guide to the Unique Taste of Millions,” by Christian Lander, paperback, Random House, $14
7. “Can A Catholic Support Him? Asking the Big Questions about Barack Obama,” by Douglas Kmiec, paperback, Overlook, $12
8. “Holidays on Ice,” by David Sedaris, paperback, Little Brown, $16.99
9. “New Earth: Awakening to Your Life’s Purpose,” by Echart Tolle, paperback, Plume, $14
10. “Eat This Not That,” by David Zinczenko, paperback, Rodale, $19.95
Children
1. “Scratch and the Pirates of Paradise Cove,” by Richard Means Ybarra, paperback, Pinata Books, $9.95
2. “Twilight,” by Stephenie Meyer, paperback, Little Brown, $10.99
3. “New Moon,” by Stephenie Meyer, paperback, Little Brown, $10.99
4. “Scribbles,” by Taro Gomi, paperback, Chronicle Books, $19.99
5. “Diary of a Wimpy Kid Do-It-Yourself Book,” by Jeff Kinney, paperback, Abrams, $10.95
6. “Eclipse,” by Stephenie Meyer, paperback, Little Brown, $19.99
7. “Influence,” by Mary-Kate & Ashley Olsen, paperback, Sleuth Razorbill, $35
8. “Gallop,” by Rufus Seder, paperback, Workman, $12.95
9. “Fancy Nancy,” by Jane O’Connor, paperback, Harper, $17.99
10. “Breaking Dawn,” by Stephenie Meyer, paperback, Little Brown, $22.99
Top Ten Book List provided by
Diesel, A Bookstore